Soldering-iron.



C. STICHLER.

SOLDERING IRON.

APPLXCATlON FiLED DEC. 18. 1912.

l1 9 1 3 1 5 5 Patented Apr. 6, 1915;

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\v x\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\m\\\\\va WITNESSES INVENTOR SOLDERING-IRON.

Lldaiififi.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented rare.

Application filed December 18, 1912. Serial No. 737,385.

To aZZ whom it mayconcern Be it known that .1, CHARLES STIGHLER, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, and resident of Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Soldering-Irons, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to soldering irons of the self-heating type and has for its object to provide such irons with a soldering-bit adjustable in the direction of its own axis and also to various angles relatively to the axis of the iron, and which is reversible in its support.

My invention also contemplates the adjustment of the soldering-bit and its support relatively to the mouth of the Bunsen-tube whereby maximum and uniform results may be obtained with difierent kinds of gases or other fuel and with difierent pressures of such gases or other fuel.

A still further object of my improvement is to construct such irons in a manner that the same may be used as combined soldering irons and blow pipes whereby the sur face being operated upon may be kept in a heated condition during the soldering operation. I

Other objects of my invention Wlll appear from the description hereinafter and the features of noveltv will be the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved soldering-iron; Fig. 2 is a cross section thereof on the line 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an elevation with parts in section and with the soldering-bit and its support in a difierent position from that illustrated in big. 1; Fig. l is a partial plan view of Fig. 3 and Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the parts in position for use a combined blow-pipe and soldering-iron.

In the drawings 1 represents mixing tube of the Bunsen burner type having the its end bent or turned toward its to reduce the diameter of its bore at this point as indicated at 2 whereby the danger of flare-back is reduced to a minimum. Ii nozzle 3 is detachabl secured in the inlet end of said tube 1 in any suitable manner as by screw-threading and is provided with the customary exit openings coinpointed out in municating with the interior of the tube 1 and further carries the usual needle This needle at extends through a central aperture in a rotatable cap 5 which is in screw-threaded engagement with a reduced neck of the nozzle-3 and which extends over the exit openings in said nozzle. The can 5 which the needle 4 forms a needle valvejis adjustable lengthwise of the said reduced neck,

- whereby the needle 4: is moved into .or out of said central aperture of said cap 5 and the flow of gas or other fuel to the interior of the tube 1 is correspondingly regulated in the wellknown manner. An inlet pipe 6 or" smaller diameter than said mixing tube 1 has its one end screwed into or otherwise detachably secured in the nozzle 3 and its other end carries a nipple 7 preferably removably secured in position and adapted to receive the end of the usual flexible hose which may be connected with the source of fuel supply when the iron is in use. The pipe 6 extends through a handle 8 prefer ably made of wood or other material which is a poor conductor of heat, which handle is preferably clamped between the end of the tube 1 and the nipple 'Z, the latter in this case serving as a nut to secure said handle against movement relatively to the iron as shown best in Fig. 3. 4

in order that the cap 5 may be access for regulating purposes after the iron is assembled I prefer to provide the tube 1 with diametrically opposite openings 9 suiii ciently large to accommodate the ends of a thumb and finger and located adjacent to a knurled portion 5 formed on the cap 5 through the medium of which the rotation of the said cap in one direction or the other to secure the desired fuel regulation is facilitated. These openings 9,. in addition to the function just described, also serve to air to the interior oi": the tube 1 whereby the proper mixture of air and fuel is secured within said mixing tube 1.

in order to provide for the admission oi additional air to the interior of said tube whenever this should become necessary, .i may provide said tube 1 with additional apertures 10 preferably located in advance of openings 9 and controlled by means of an adjustable shutter or sleeve 11 movably mounted on the tube 1'. This shutter or sleeve 11 is of a size to completely cover sad apertures 10 when the supply at adi ted through the openings 9 is sufiicient and is movable lengthwise of said tube 1 whereby the aperture'lO may be uncovered more or less to change the effective area thereof and thus regulate the amount of additional air which is admitted therethrough. I-thus secure what might be termed a double air supply whereby all conditions and qualities of gas or other fuel may be accommodated to secure the best and maximum results. prefer to locate the openings 9 and apertures 10 between the handle 8 and the exit end of the tube 1 so that the length of tube through used. The said bit. 12 is mounted in a clampsecured in an adjusted position thereon by and nut 19 in addition which the mixture of air and fuel travels before being consumed is reduced to a minimum and the mixture consequently issues from said exit end of the tube 1 at high speed anddoes not lose speed after becoming mixed as is the case when the handle is between the air inlet openings and the exit end of the Bunsen or mixing tube.

In my improved iron the soldering bit 12 is constructed as a detachable unit of copper or other suitable metal and has its opposite ends differently shaped so that by simply reversing said bit either end best adapted for the particular work in hand may be ing collar 13 having lugs 14 located on opposite sides of a support 15 which extends preferably parallel with the tube 1 and forms part of or is secured to, a sleeve or collar 16 slidably mounted on the tube 1 and any suitable means as for instance a thumb screw 17.- A bolt 18 projects through the lugs 14 and the support 15 and in addition to serving as a pivot about which the clamping collar 13 swings, also in cooperation with anut 19 is adapted to secure said clamping collar 13 in an adjusted position. The said clamping collar and soldering bit are preferably, though not necessarily, so constructed relatively to each other, that the collar 13 will exert a pressure upon the bit 12 when the nut 19 is fully screwed upon the bolt 18, so that in this case said bolt 18 13 and with it the bit 12 in an adjusted position may also prevent said bit 12 from moving in the direction of its axis relatively to the collar 13. Thus, when this construction is used, the releasing of the collar 13 to permit it to be swung about the pivot 18 will also concurrently release the bit 12 and per- -mit a lengthwise adjustment thereof in said collar 13. In order that the flames from the Bunsen burner or the heat therefrom may reach the outer surface of said bit 12 and thus reduce to a minimum the length of time necessary to heat the bit to an effective de gree, I prefer to provide grooves 20 which .extend axially of the collar 13' on the inner surface thereof and form channels extending lengthwise of said soldering bit through 1 also air openings so that ,comprise slots 24 to securing the collar and the bit so that a considerable portion of the outer surface of said bit will thus be directly engaged either by the flame itself or the heat therefrom. The said grooves 20 and the space 21 are shown best in Figs. 3 and 1 of the drawings.- To concentrate the action of the flame upon the soldering bit and to confine the heat therefrom adjacent to the same, Iprefer to provide a shield 22 which is carried by and surrounds the collar 13 and in the condition of the parts as indicated in Fig. 1 extends toward the Bunsen tube 1 and at all times formsa hood over the one end of the soldering bit 12, adjacent to tures through which the bolt 18 extends so that the clamping action of the bolt 18 and nut 19 will also assist in securing said shield in operative position. j

The shield 22 is preferably provided with a suitable amount of air may be admitted to the flame to bring about a thorough and perfect combustion of the fuel and as shown, these openings preferably which are located at spaced intervals and preferably extend spirally of the said shield 22. As it is well known that burnt gases always have a tendency to rise in a vertical line, the best operative results are obtained in structures of the present general type when the said gases are permitted to escape in the direction in which they normally tend to rise while fresh air is admitted at a point diametrically opposite the place of escape. By making these air openings 24 in the nature of spiral slots this result is secured as some part of a spiral slot will always be at the top of the shield 22 to form a vent for the escape of said gases while a portion of another slot will always be at the bottom at a substantially diametrically opposite point to form an intake for the fresh air no matter in what position the soldering iron may be held or to what extent the same may be rotated about its own axis. This is particularly the case when the parts are in the position illustrated in Fig. 1.

It will be seen struction the soldering bit may be readily swung. or adjusted to any number of posi tions at an angle to the axis of the iron or that said head may be brought into axial alinement with the Bunsen tube when desired. It will further be obvious that by that in my improved conexit end of said Bunsen tube may quickly.

be brought into the most effective position relatively to said soldering bit either with regard to its position or with regard to the I particular kind and quality of fuel being used.v In addition to this the said soldering bit 12 may be adjusted in the clamping ring 13 in an axial direction andits posit on therein may readily be reversed to br ng either of the soldering bit ends into operat ve position. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3 or in any other position in which the axis of the-soldering bit is at an angle to the axis of the iron the shield 22 will deflect the flame or the heat therefrom toward said bit 12 and through the grooves and space 21. In all positions of the parts the shield 22 serves as a hood to concentrate the action of the flame upon the soldering bit 12 and to confine the heat from said flame adjacent thereto.

When it is desired to use'the iron as a combined soldering iron and blow pipe the I parts are adjusted to the position illustrated f so f as

in Fig. 5. This is accomplished by removing the nut 19 from the bolt 18 and then sliding said bolt out of the lugs 14 and support 15 to completely disconnect the collar 13 and its connected parts from said support 15. After this has been done the position of the collar 13 is reversed so that the shield 22 extends forward therefrom or in the opposite direction from that shown in Fig. 1,

after. which the lugs 14 are again brought into engagement with the support 15 and the bolt 18 returned to its initial position extending through said lugs and said support. By adjusting the collar 13 to the proper angle, the shield 22 will form a hood extending at an angle to the axis of the Bunsen tube and over the soldering bit 12 which has been or may be properly positioned in the collar 13 to cause one of its ends to project slightly beyond the shield 22 as shown in Fig. 5 in which positionthe'parts may be fixed by screwing u the nut 19 and regulating the screw 23 i -the latteris used. The support 15 is also above the Bunsen tube instead of below as in Figs. 1 and 3 although it is to be understood that said support may be above the said tube even when the parts are in the position shown in said Figs. 1 and 3 without interfering with the operation and use of the iron. 5 the flame from the Bunsen-burner will strike the soldering-bit to heat the same and will be deflected downwardly thereby upon I the surface being operated upon so that said and blow pipe, it being of course said support, the pivot of When arranged as in Fig the direct action of the flame in surface.

As shown in Fig. 5, the present invention thus constitutes a combined soldering iron understood that the collar 16 and supportl5 have been adjusted lengthwise of the tube 1 to bring the exit endfof said tube 1 into the most effective" position relatively to the soldering bit 12.

Various changes'in the specific structure and arrangements shown and described may be made within the scope of the-claims with out departing from the spirit 'of my invention.

I claim:

1. A self-heating soldering iron comprising a burner-tube adapted for connection with a source of fuel supply, a support movablelengthwise of said tube, a solderingbit 'pivotally mounted-on said support to swing in a plane passing lengthwise through heating said burner tube and means movable with i said bit for confining the flames and heat. from said burner-tube adjacent to said bit.

' 2. A self-heating soldering iron comprising a burner-tube adapted for connection with a source of fuel supply, a support carried by said tube and movable lengthwise thereof, a clamp pivotally mounted upon said support, the pivot of said clamp extending at a right angle to the axis of said burner-tube and a soldering-bit movably secured in said clamp.

3. A self-heating soldering iron comprising a burner-tube adapted for connection with a source of fuel supply, a support carried by said tube and movable lengthwise thereof, a clamp pivotally mounted upon said clamp extending at a right angle to the axis of said burner-tube, a soldering-bit movably secured on said clamp, means for securing said clamp in an adjusted position and means for securing said support against movement relatively to said tube.

4. A self-heating-s'oldering iron comprising a burner 'tube adapted for connection with a source of 'fuel supply, a support movable lengthwise of said. tube, a solder ing-bit pivotally mounted on said support to swing about a pivot extending at a right angle to the axis of said burner-tube and a shield movable with said bit whereby the flame and heat therefrom are confined adjacent to said bit.

5. A self-heating soldering iron comprising a burner-tube adapted for connection with a source of fuel supply, a support movable lengthwise of said tube, otally mounted upon said support, the pivot a clamp piv-- I of said clamp extending at a right angle to heat therefrom are confined adjacent to said bit.

6. A self-heating soldering iron comprising a burner-tube adapted for connection with a'source of fuel su ply, a support mov-.

able lengthwise of sai tube, a clamp pivotally mounted upon said support, a soldering-bit movably secured in said clamp and a, shield carried by said clamp whereby the flame and heat therefrom are confined adjacent to said bit, said shield being provided with slots extending spirally thereof.

7. A self-heating soldering iron comprising a burner-tube adapted for connection with a source of fuel supply, a support mov- --able lengthwise of said tube, a clamp pivotally mounted upon said support, the pivot of said clamp extending at a right angle to In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. v

CHARLES STICHLER. Witnesses:

WILLIAM E. Toms, RICHARD R. TRIGKER, Jr.

said .bit and provided with 

